St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-12-04
KILLED BY VANITY.
Why Grevy Was Obliged to Sur
render the Presidency.
Ry Cable TO the Glote.

By Cable to the Glote.
LOSDON. Dec. 3.-The message of
President (irevy to the French parlia-
ment is most unique document. ana
creates in London, where 1t can be dl-
gested without prejudice, feelings little
short OF disgust and pity for the man
who wrote it. While it was perfectly
apparent to every politician in France,
and patent to the civilized world, that
nothing was left to NJ. Grevy but to re-
sign. the vain old man clung to his
place and assumed that his removal
would precipitate the downfall of
France. History scarcely furnishes an
equal example of vanity. COunSeled by
every statesman in France to withdraw
and give place to any man who could be
selected by the constituted power to ac-
cOmplish what he himself had failed to
do. this vain old man, with his dying
official breath, declares that he washes
his hands of responsibility for future
events in France. He hardly needed to
give this warning, since all but he had
long since observed that he was as far
removed from possible connection with
future political events as man could
well be and yet live. Still there is this
to be said in his favor: Had he been
less honest, less patriotic and less mind
full of the
SAFETY AND WELFARE
of his friends. he might to-day have
been in a position to dictate the policy,
if not the person, of his successor. in
stead of being compelled to launch HIM
self, as he has done, into political OBJ
scurity. The great mistake that NJ.
Grevy has made is not that he endeav-
Ored by every possible means to shield
the raScally practices of his daughter
husband, but that he defied public Opin-
ion in the belief that he embodied all
that was good. great and patriotic. while
his opponents represented everything
ignoble. 1t was his vanity. not his lack
of patriotism or honesty, that OverthreW
him. He might have been compelled to
resign in the end, but had he given aid
where he interpOSed obstacles, rendered
fresh services to the country where he
paused to remind the people of those he
had performed, he could have vacated
the Elysee as great in the estimation of
France as he was when he was chosen
to fill the highest position in the organ
izatiOn of the republic. and would have
been as powerful in the councils of the
nation as the greatest of the men who
now speak of him only with cOmmiSera-
ton or contempt. The beginning of NJ.
Grevy'S downfall was not the discov-
cry of
VI. WILSON'S DISHONESTY.
The excavation of the mine which was
subsequently charged and yesterday eX-
ploded under his feet was begun when
NJ. Grevy went out of his way to join in
the hue and cry against BOulanger, and
that generals friends are not the only
persons who realize this. Hundreds
and thousands of Frenchmen in Paris,
and out of it, called attention to this
fact weeks ago, but small attention was
paid TO it. Forces have been at work
Since the time when NJ. Greyy virtually
declared that he would precipitate
France into anarchy rather than sanction
ministry of which Gen. Boulanger
should be member, that a greater and
stronger man than he could not have
resisted. Gen. Boulanger may not profit
politically by the change; he may never
again be cabinet minister: but he has
the satisfaction of knowing that BOu-
IangeriSm was potent power in bring
ing about the present crisis, and that
the new president, and the ministry as
well. will interpOse long period of hes
itatiOn between assuming office and i'll
stituting a series of petty prosecutions
against him in the hope of attaining po-
litical ends thereby.